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Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, obligatory for any Muslims with the means to perform it; other than being an obligation it is one of the greatest blessings to be invited to perform the pilgrimage.
Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage that is performed in Makkah, a sacred city in Saudi Arabia. This pilgrimage is an essential religious duty for Muslims, and every adult Muslim should perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime if they have the ability, physically and economically.
Anyone who proceeds with this spiritual journey purifies their body, heart, soul and mind from their past sins.
To perform Hajj, it usually takes around five to six days, depending on the your own plan. The main rituals of Hajj take place between the 8th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah. However, the preparations and rituals leading up to Hajj can take several weeks.
Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage that holds great significance spiritually, physically, and emotionally for Muslims. It provides us with the opportunity to refresh our spiritual self, renew our faith, and be cleansed of worldly sins.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized the importance of performing Hajj for the sake of Allah and maintaining purity of speech and actions during the pilgrimage. This journey is a fundamental pillar of Islam that brings believers closer to Allah SWT.
Hajj should be performed during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, specifically between the 8th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah. It is a pilgrimage that must be completed during this specific time frame each year.
Successfully completing Hajj requires the correct preparation in advance. This section offers insights and guidelines to ensure you're mentally and physically ready for this sacred journey.
Hajj is the final and fifth Pillar of Islam. The first four pillars of Islam are fairly non-negotiable; every Mulsim repeats the Shahadah and daily Salah is a foundation of ones Imaan. Sawm and Zakat are designated every year. However, Hajj is an obligatory act that is only necessary in once in ones entire lifetime and even then, only obligatory if one has the means to do so including their financial and physical resources.
You will enter the Sacred Masjid, God willing, perfectly secure, and you will cut your hair or shorten it (as you fulfill the pilgrimage rituals) there. You will not have any fear. Since He knew what you did not know, He has coupled this with an immediate victory.” [Holy Quran, 48:27]
Hajj itself has 4 key Pillars.
Ihram is the sacred state one must be in to perform Hajj. It goes beyond clothing, also including behaviour and intention. You must be cautious to respect this holy state by not doing any behaviours to break it.
Sa’ee is the act completed during Hajj where Pilgrims run between Safa and Marwa to commemorate the struggle of Hajra (RA), as she ran between these hills seven times to find food or water for her son, Prophet Ismail (AS).
Waqfat Arafah is where Pilgrims stand and pray on the plains of Arafah begins from noon on 9th Dhul Hijjah till the dawn of 10th Dhul Hijjah.
Finally, Tawaf al Ifadah is where pilgrims circumambulate around the Holy Kaaba seven times and even try to raise hands towards Hajr e Aswad (Black Stone) to seek blessings and forgiveness.
‘Haram’ or Sanctuary refers to a unique area where certain activities, usually permitted elsewhere, are disallowed out of profound respect and reverence for God, who set these rules. God said that those who respect these sanctified sites would be rewarded. God selected this land as sacred, with specific rules differing from other locations. It possesses exclusive merits not found anywhere else, and its sanctity dates back to the dawn of the universe.
God declared this land a Sanctuary on the day the universe was created, a status that will endure till the end of time. As the Prophet said: “From the day He created the heavens and the earth, God declared this town a sanctuary. It remains a sanctuary by God’s decree till the end of time.”
You are now in a place that was distinguished and sanctified by God before the creation of humans. It’s the location where God instructed Ibrahim to lay the foundations of the House (Kabah), even before a single soul lived in Makkah. It was chosen to be the Qiblah and guidance for all. In this place, rewards for good deeds are amplified, and sins hold more significance than elsewhere.
God entrusted His noblest humans, Ibrahim and Ismail, and then Muhammad, with the responsibility of purifying, building, and taking care of the Kabah.
Although performing Hajj is only obligated to be performed once during one’s lifetime, people may wish to complete it multiple times, especially when they have the resources to do so as the spiritual gain from it is unmatched. However, unlike Umrah which can be performed multiple times within a single trip, the rituals of Hajj that are performed on specific days of Dhul Hijjah are constrained so Hajj cannot be performed multiple times in a single trip like this.
Dhul Hijjah is the final month of the Islamic Calander and in addition to Hajj, Muslims also withness the Day of Arafah and Eid ul Adha.
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are better than all other days of the year and most acts of Hajj are performed within this period. The Messenger (PBUH) of Allah SWT said, “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah SWT than these ten days.” (Bukhari)
While not everyone can perform Hajj every Dhul Hijjah, it does not mean that the virtues of these days need to go to waste. Instead, Muslims may like to spend these days doing other acts from their own home including giving charity (zakat or sadaqah), praying Tahajjud, observing fasts in the first nine days, reciting the Holy Quran, doing dhikr of Allah SWT, and giving prophetic Qurbani.
The Messenger (PBUH) of Allah SWT said, “There are no days greater and more beloved to Allah SWT than these ten days of Dhul Hijjah. So, increase in them your declaration of the oneness of Allah SWT (tahleel), your exaltation of him (takbeer), and your praise of him (tahmeed).” (Ahmed)
As with most things, ou should start your journey for Hajj with the intention to ask Allah for the means and resources to do so. Concerning important decisions, believers can perform Salat Al-Istikharah, to ask Allah for guidance in making the right choice.
Hajj comes with various costs such as purchasing a ticket, visa and fnding a place to stay; it is an investment and the money you use for Hajj should be halal, and you should be able to provide for any dependents at home while you’re away. Moreover, some rituals such as sadaqah, the Eid al-Adha ritual, and the obligatory animal sacrifice need to be accounted for as well.
The Hajj package you choose can make a large difference to your trip. It is recommended to look for a travel agent that can get you the best deal. Your package should cover the necessary costs associated with Hajj so that you don’t have to worry about going over budget.
Hajj, like any form of travel, requires the appropriate legal documents. You will need a visa to travel to Makkah. The processing time for a Hajj visa can vary depending on several factors, including the country of application and the time of year. Generally, obtaining a Hajj visa can take several weeks to a couple of months, based on the requirements set by the ministry.
Millions around the world have been undertaking Hajj each year since the migration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Madina to Makkah. For anyone preparing to go, it’s an incredibly exciting time but of course a deeply spiritual, serious and important period of our lives. The timeline below helps you understand the different aspects of the holy pilgrimage.
After Pilgrims arrive to Makkah and complete their Umrah, the first day of Hajj is known as Yawm al-Tarwiyah (the Day of Quenching Thirst). It was given this name because on this day, the early pilgrims were instructed to drink a lot of water and fill their containers in preparation for the long journey ahead.
You will proceed to Mina via coach before the time for Dhuhr has come in. It is a Sunnah to leave for Mina on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah after sunrise as was the practice of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Recite Talbiyah frequently during this journey. After you have settled down in your tent, you will perform Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers in Qasr form i.e. you will shorten the prayers as if you were a traveller. The shortening of the prayer is applicable to everyone, regardless of whether the individual is a resident of Makkah or not. During your stay in Mina, spend your time in prayer and supplication.
You will spend the night of the 8th of Dhul Hijjah in Mina. With this, your first day of Hajj has been completed.
Read on to simplify the process of travelling for Hajj, as we provide essential tips and recommendations for a smooth pilgrimage journey.
If you use your own or a rented car to come to Makkah to perform Hajj:
Car parking in Makkah
Before you travel by car, make sure to:
Hajj pilgrims residing in adjacent countries are allowed to enter the Kingdom through land ports on their own or rented cars. They may also enter through land ports using means of transportation licensed to external agents only.
Residents and local citizens intending to do Hajj or Umrah can travel by public transport buses. Small cars are banned from entering Makkah before the start of the Hajj season and on the last ten days of Ramadan unless they have an official entry permit.
At entrances to Makkah, there are 7 parking lots able to accommodate 50,000 cars of Umrah pilgrims.
You will be asked to park your car in a parking lot in the Holy Capital (Makkah). At these parking lots, buses transport Hajj and Umrah pilgrims directly to the Grand Mosque.
Mina is located 5 miles or 8 kilometers in the eastern direction of Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. It is located at the eponymous Mina valley. Mina is at an elevation of approximately 1230 ft (400m), bordered by the 4th Ring Road at the north, the district of Makkah at the west, the al-Jamaih district to the south and Muzdalifah to the east. St. Pilgrims spend the night in Mina and will also have to offer 5 obligatory prayers.
Mount Arafat is located 10 kilometers away from Mina on the plains of Arafah. Pilgrims will often begin their travel to Arafat from Mina after sunrise and they can then expect to arrive there before Dhur although traffic can cause delays, so Pilgrims should be wary of this.
Muzdalifah is located between Mount Arafat and Mina, in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It covers an area of 12.25 square kilometres, stretching from the mountains of Ma’zamayn to the Valley of Muhassar. Before leaving for Muzdalifah, note that it is obligatory to stay at Arafat until Sunset.
There are a variety of ways that one can travel to the different areas required to attend during Hajj, including walk or taking the train or bus. One option is to take the Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro. This rail service has air-conditioned trains that will transport pilgrims between the holy sites in a much faster time than it would take to walk.
Walking may be preferred by some to taking the bus as there will likely be a lot of traffic and congestion. Nonetheless taking the bus can be fairly comfortable though they would be susceptible to plenty traffic. Walking depends on ones physical capacity it could also benefit the spiritual experience, although it is not Sunnah.
Navigate Hajj Islamic terminologies with ease. Our glossary offers clear definitions of key terms, aiding both newcomers and seasoned learners in deepening their understanding of Islamic teachings.
Ihram is a sacred state that Muslim pilgrims enter and stay in while performing the divine rituals of Hajj. Ihram must be worn by every individual heading to Makkah for either of the lesser or greater pilgrimage. A pilgrim enters the state by performing some cleansing acts and wearing a dress.
Tawaf is the act of circumambulating the Holy Kaaba in an anti-clockwise direction. It involves walking around the Kaaba seven times as part of the rituals of Hajj. When performing Tawaf, pilgrims recite Takbir and various other supplications based on the Sunnah of the Prophet’s.
Tawaf Qudum is the Tawaf of Arrival, performed by pilgrims upon arriving in Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, who have the intention to perform Hajj al-Ifrad or Hajj al-Qiran before Wuquf on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah.
Sa’ee is an Islamic ritual which honours the struggle of Prophet Ibrahim (AS)’s wife Hajar (AS); it means to run or walk between Safa and Marwa while performing Hajj and is the fourth compulsory rite of Hajj or Umrah, performed after completing Tawaf.
The Miqat line is where pilgrims intending to perform Hajj must enter the state of Ihram before crossing the boundary. This involves performing the ritual of cleaning and wearing the prescribed clothing, Ihram and reciting the Talbiyah.
The Talbiyah is a devotional prayer recited by Muslim pilgrims with the belief that they intend to perform Hajj only for the glory of Allah (SWT). It is recited at least a hundred times throughout the pilgrimage.
Halq is when one shaves their entire head after the completion of Hajj and it applies exclusively to men. A person won’t be able to leave the state of Ihram until it is performed. It is recommended that you start shaving hair from the right side while facing the Holy Kaaba.
Taqsir means to trim (cut) one’s hair and is an obligation for woman performing Hajj.
Wuquf refers to the act of standing in the plain of Arafat during the Hajj pilgrimage. It is a fundamental ritual and a key component of Hajj. Pilgrims gather in Arafat on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah to pray, repent, and seek forgiveness from Allah.
Rami is the ritual of throwing stones at three special pillars in Mina during Hajj. It is performed on the 4th and 5th days of Hajj and symbolizes the act of throwing stones at the shaitaan, representing not giving in to his whispers.
Jamarat refers to the three stone pillars located in Mina, within the boundaries of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. These pillars are pelted by Hajj pilgrims during the ritual of Rami to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s actions and to symbolize the expulsion of evil worldly thoughts and Satan.
Hady refers to the animal sacrifice that Pilgrims complete on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah and it is carried out by Pilgrims performing Hajj al-Tamattu and Hajj al-Qiran.
Tawaf al-Ziyarah, also known as Tawaf al-Ifadah, is performed by Hajj pilgrims on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. During this ritual, pilgrims circumambulate the Holy Kaaba seven times, offer two Rakats behind Maqam Ibrahim, drink Zamzam water, and perform the rite of Sa’ee.
Tawaf Al-Wada, also known as the Farewell Tawaf, is a ritual that pilgrims perform just before leaving the city of Makkah after completing the Hajj pilgrimage.
